Month: June 2023

these may vary from one church to the other or one ministry to the depending on the visions and the assignment given to individual and group of people who are committed to the service of our Lord God, but as far as the Lord’s World Missions is concerned we enumerate the following functions of the pastors which are broadly divided into two categories.

To the Church:

1. Spiritual Leader: A pastor is responsible for providing spiritual guidance to the church. This involves leading and teaching spiritual growth, providing the proper context for worship, and helping to shape the culture of the church.
2. Administrative Duties: A pastor is also responsible for overseeing the administrative tasks of the church, such as overseeing finances, personnel management, and working with committees on building projects or other matters.
3. Ministerial Tasks: The pastor is responsible for performing ministerial tasks such as presiding over baptisms, funerals, weddings, and counseling.

To the Members:

1. Spiritual Counseling: A pastor is responsible for offering spiritual counseling to members of the church, such as offering spiritual advice, providing prayers and guidance, and encouraging members in their spiritual growth.
2. Community Support: A pastor should also be a supportive member of the community, facilitating activities or programs that benefit those in need and enhance the wellbeing of the members.
3. Crisis Intervention: A pastor should also be available to provide support or counseling during times of crisis, whether it is a life-changing event or personal tragedy.

(Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 4:2,
1 Timothy 3:2-7; 1 Peter 5:3, Acts 20:38).

The Bible is a collection of religious texts, including both the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament, that are sacred to Christians. It is the word of God, written by human authors inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament consists of 39 books written between approximately 1400 and 400 BCE, while the New Testament contains 27 books written between approximately 50 and 100 CE. The main divisions of the Bible are the Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy), History (Joshua to Esther), Poetry (Job to Song of Solomon), Major Prophets (Isaiah to Daniel), Minor Prophets (Hosea to Malachi), and Gospels and Acts (Matthew to Acts).

The Bible was delivered to man through divine inspiration by God Himself and through the work of human authors.

1. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
2. “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve,” (Jeremiah 17:10).

3.“But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets,” (Daniel 2:28).

4. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
5. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law,” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
6. “No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:11).
7. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless, He is a shield for all who take refuge in him,” (2 Samuel 22:31).

Serving God means living a life that glorifies Him and carries out His will. It means putting God first in all things and being obedient to His commands.

It also involves serving God with our physical resources to glorify God.

Here are some Bible references that explain serving God:

1. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

2. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

3. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

   Ways to serve God
1. By keeping God’s commandments – “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

2. By praying – “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18)

3. By loving others – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34)

4. By sharing the gospel – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15)

5. By giving generously – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Some of The benefits of serving God in are:

1. Eternal Life in Heaven – When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are promised eternal life in Heaven (John 3:16).

2. Protection – God promises to protect us from harm and danger if we serve Him whole-heartedly (Psalm 91:14).

3. Provision – Serving God allows us to have our needs met according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

4. Direction in Life – When we seek God’s guidance, He will show us the right paths to take (Proverbs 3:5–6).

5. Comfort – God comforts us in times of distress and grants us peace within (Isaiah 40:1).

6. Joy – Serving God brings us joy and gives us a reason to be cheerful (Nehemiah 8:10).

7. Fulfillment – Following God’s plan for our lives leads to true fulfillment and satisfaction (Jeremiah 29:11).